Device for sucking up liquid from the ground

ABSTRACT

A device for sucking up liquid on a floor includes an outside wall defining a first enclosure that is open at least via openings for passing a liquid to the inside of the first enclosure and a pipe in fluid flow connection with a liquid suction pump said first enclosure. The device includes an inside wall defining a second enclosure, the second enclosure being open at least via openings formed through the inside wall so as to allow liquid to pass from the first enclosure into the second enclosure, the pipe opening out into the inside of the second enclosure.

The present invention relates to the field of devices for sucking up liquid present on a floor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are devices that are adapted to be in fluid flow connection with a pump in order to be able to suck up a liquid present on the floor while also filtering the liquid.

The purpose of such filtering is to limit any risk of the pump becoming blocked by objects and/or particles situated in the surroundings of the device for sucking up liquid.

Such a device acts as a pump strainer screen. A drawback of such devices is that they are liable to become clogged with objects and/or particles lying on the floor around the device.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a device that is adapted to be in fluid flow connection with a pump in order to suck up liquid on a floor, the device limiting any risk of the pump becoming clogged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention provides a device for sucking up liquid on a floor, the device having an outside wall defining a first enclosure that is open at least via openings formed through the outside wall so as to allow liquid to pass from outside the first enclosure to inside the first enclosure.

The device has a pipe presenting a first end arranged for putting into fluid flow connection with a liquid suction pump and a second end of the pipe is in fluid flow connection with said first enclosure so as to be able to suck liquid present in the first enclosure into said pipe.

The device of the invention is essentially characterized in that it includes an inside wall defining a second enclosure, the second enclosure being open at least via openings formed through the inside wall so as to allow liquid to pass from the first enclosure into the second enclosure and said second end of the pipe opening out into the inside of the second enclosure at a distance from the first enclosure.

In this way, liquid sucked from outside the first enclosure into said pipe passes successively through the first enclosure and then through the second enclosure.

The liquid is thus subjected to first filtering by the openings formed through the outside wall and to second filtering through openings formed through the inside wall.

Double filtering is thus performed and there is a buffer zone between the inside wall and the outside wall that greatly limits any risk of the suction pump being blocked by matter present outside the suction device.

Preferably, the second enclosure is located inside the first enclosure. This makes it possible to perform double filtering with a device that is particularly compact, presenting a buffer storage zone between the inside wall and the outside wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear clearly from the following description that is given by way of nonlimiting indication and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an assembly comprising a device of the invention for sucking up liquid on a floor and a liquid suction pump that is connected laterally to a first end of the pipe of the device, with the assembly in this embodiment forming a basement-drainer having the pump and the device placed side-by-side on the floor from which it is desired to suck up liquid;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 pump used as a transfer pump, with the suction inlet of the pump in this embodiment connected to an external pipe for admitting liquid to the pump and with the discharge outlet of the pump connected to an external liquid discharge pipe;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom face of a portion of the FIG. 1 device for sucking up liquid on a floor (shown without its bottom piece), with a portion of FIG. 3 being an enlargement showing slot-shaped openings made through inside and outside walls of the device;

FIG. 4a is a cross-section view through a portion of the FIG. 1 device for sucking up liquid (shown without its bottom piece), with a portion of FIG. 4a being an enlargement of the slot-shaped openings made through the inside and outside walls of the device (the liquid level Nx outside the first enclosure E1 lies above the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall 20, at this stage, no liquid is yet being sucked towards the pump since the pump can only suck in gas above the level Nx);

FIG. 4b is a view identical to the view of FIG. 4a , but in this figure the liquid level Nx outside the first enclosure E1 lies above the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall 20, at this stage, the liquid level Ny inside the second enclosure E2 begins to rise under the effect of gas being sucked in by the dry self-priming pump, but the liquid has not yet reached the pump;

FIG. 4c is a view identical to the view of FIGS. 4a and 4b , but in this figure the liquid level Nx outside the first enclosure E1 lies a little above the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall 20, at this stage, the liquid level Ny inside the second enclosure E2 has risen under the effect of gas being sucked in by the pump, and the liquid fills the second enclosure E2 completely and reaches the pump;

FIG. 5 is is a cross-section view of the FIG. 1 device for sucking up liquid on the floor (shown with its bottom piece);

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the FIG. 1 device for sucking up liquid on a floor (shown with its bottom piece), with a portion of FIG. 6 being an enlargement showing the slot-shaped openings 11, 21 made through the inside and outside walls of the device (it can be seen that the cross section of each of these openings becomes larger in the direction of fluid flow through these openings so as to limit any risk of internal clogging in any of these openings);

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2, in which it can be seen that the pump includes an electric motor driving a movable part 45 with reciprocating motion between first and second walls 44 a and 44 b of the chamber 44 in order to cause the pump to suck in fluid; a portion of FIG. 7 is an enlargement of the movable part 45 in which there can be seen circular first upstream and downstream lips 120 a and 121 a on a first side of the part 45, and circular second upstream and downstream lips 120 b and 121 b on another side of the part 45;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an assembly comprising a device of the invention for sucking up liquid on a floor and a liquid suction pump, the assembly being in its liquid transfer configuration in which the device of the invention is assembled to an attachment fitting of the pump that is remote from the suction inlet of the pump, the device of the invention forming a stand that supports the pump, and the pump being used for transferring fluid without the fluid and/or liquid passing through the device of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of an assembly including the device of the invention for sucking up liquid on a floor and a liquid suction pump, the assembly being in its basement-drainer configuration in which the device of the invention is in fluid flow connection with the suction inlet of the pump, the device of the invention forming a stand that supports the pump, and the pump being used for sucking up the liquid on the floor, the liquid passing through the device of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a section view of the FIG. 9 assembly on a plane X-X (the assembly is shown in its embodiment where the device forms a stand for supporting the pump), the assembly is shown in its basement-drainer configuration;

FIG. 11 is a section view of the movable part 45 in the chamber 44, the first lips 120 a and 121 a being shown attached to a first side of the movable part 45 so as to bear against a first wall 44 a of the chamber 44 and the second lips 120 b and 121 b being shown attached to a second side of the movable part 45 so as to bear against a second wall 44 b of the chamber 44; and

FIG. 12 is a section view of the second wall 44 b of the chamber 44 of the pump, and in this embodiment the second lips 120 b and 121 b are not attached to the movable part 45 as they are in FIG. 11, but they are attached exclusively to the second wall 44 b of the chamber 44 (this embodiment is like the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in which the second wall 44 b carries the second lips 120 b and 121 b and in which the first wall 44 a carries the first lips 120 a and 121 a).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general manner, and with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10, the invention relates to a device 1 for sucking up liquid from a floor S.

The device 1 has an outside wall 10 defining a first enclosure E1 that is open at least via openings 11 formed through the outside wall 10 so as to allow liquid to pass from outside the first enclosure E1 to inside the first enclosure E1.

The outside wall 10 is in the shape of a bell with a cylindrical side, and the openings 11 formed through the outside wall are essentially in the shape of slots. Each opening 11 extends in a plane that is perpendicular to a plane via which the device 1 bears against the floor S.

In this example, the openings 11 are arranged in first and second groups of openings G1 and G2, and a portion G3 of the outside wall 10 extends between the first and second groups of openings G1 and G2 so as to separate them.

Each of the openings 11 in the first group G1 is elongate in shape and extends in a direction that is common to all of these openings 11 of the first group G1.

Specifically, these openings 11 of the first group G1 are in the shape of mutually parallel slots.

Each of the openings 11 in the second group G2 extends lengthwise along an arc, having a first terminal end located on a side edge of the outside wall 10, and a second terminal end located on a top face of the outside wall 10.

All of the openings in the first group G1 open out towards the floor in order to suck in liquid as close as possible to the floor, while the openings 11 in the second group G2 are spaced apart from the floor in order to be able to suck in liquid to be found above the device.

These openings 11 are distributed over a major portion of the periphery of the outside wall 10 (specifically these openings 11 are distributed over at least 60% of the periphery of the outside wall 10) and they are preferably spaced apart from one another equidistantly in order to provide uniform suction of liquid towards the inside of the first enclosure E1. This serves to minimize any risk of clogging the openings 11.

The device 1 also has a pipe 3 presenting a first end 3 a arranged for putting into fluid flow connection with a liquid suction pump 4 and a second end 3 b of the pipe 3 is in fluid flow connection with said first enclosure E1 so as to be able to suck liquid present in the first enclosure E1 into said pipe 3.

The device 1 also has an inside wall 20 defining a second enclosure E2 that is preferably located inside said first enclosure E1. This second enclosure E2 is open at least via openings 21 formed through the inside wall 20 so as to allow liquid to pass from the first enclosure E1 into the second enclosure E2 and into said second end 3 b of the pipe opening out into the inside of the second enclosure E2 at a distance from the first enclosure E1.

As explained above, this aspect of the device of the invention serves to perform double filtering, thereby reducing the risk of the pump becoming clogged by objects that are to be found around the device 1.

Preferably, the total liquid flow section through the openings in the outside wall 10 is at least 30% greater than the total liquid flow section through the openings in the inside wall 20.

This serves to limit any risk of the outside wall clogging, since the suction between the inner and outer faces of the outside wall 10 is limited compared with the suction that exists between the inner and outer faces of the inside wall 20.

This limits any risk of sucking in objects that are to be found around the outside wall 10.

Preferably, and as can be seen in FIG. 4a , the minimum dimension X1 of the openings 11 through the outside wall 10 is smaller than the minimum dimension X2 of the openings 21 through the inside wall 20. Thus, in the event of particles passing through the openings 11 in the outside wall 10, it is certain that the particles can pass through the openings 21 in the inside wall 20, thereby avoiding any risk of the first enclosure E1 becoming clogged. Furthermore, the minimum dimension X2 of the openings 21 through the inside wall 20 and the maximum dimension of the openings 21 through the inside wall 20 are selected to limit the size of particles capable of passing into the second enclosure E2.

The openings 21 formed through the inside wall 20 are formed exclusively between a suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall (i.e. an upper plane) and a bearing plane P1 b (i.e. a plane lower than said upper plane when the device is placed on the floor in order to suck in liquid).

The openings 11 formed through the outside wall 10 are formed exclusively between a suction limit plane P2 a for sucking through the outside wall and a bearing plane P2 b of the outside wall (the plane P2 a being above the plane P2 b when the device 1 is placed on the floor in order to suck in liquid).

At least some of the openings formed through the outside wall 10 are formed between the suction limit plane P2 a for sucking through the outside wall and the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall.

Since the outside wall 10 includes openings 11 that are above the level of the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall 20 and below the level of the suction limit plane P2 a for sucking through the outside wall, the outside wall serves to filter the liquid over a fraction of the outside wall that is above the level of the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall.

This serves to reduce any risk of the openings formed through the outside wall becoming clogged.

Furthermore, by means of this characteristic, when the device is placed so that the bearing plane P1 b of the inside wall is below the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall 20 and the liquid level Nx outside the first enclosure goes above the suction limit plane P1 a, it is then certain that the openings 21 formed through the inside wall are all immersed in the liquid and that they are not open to the open air.

It then suffices to apply suction in the pipe 3 in order to generate suction in the second enclosure E2 and thus force liquid to be sucked in while avoiding air and/or gas passing into the second enclosure E2.

Limiting the volume of air that is absorbed into the second enclosure E2 serves to improve capacity for pumping liquid (the presence of air in the pipe 3 causes the efficiency of the pump to be lowered).

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 7 and 10, said second end 3 b of the pipe opens out into an inside portion of the second enclosure that is located entirely between the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall and the suction limit plane P2 b for sucking through the outside wall. This characteristic enables the second end 3 b of the pipe to generate suction quickly in the second enclosure in order to cause the liquid level Ny therein to rise above the suction limit plane P1 a, and to suck in quickly the liquid present on the floor.

This second end 3 b is oriented to define a main liquid suction axis via said second end 3 b that does not pass through any of the openings 21 formed through the inside wall 20. This characteristic helps make the flow of liquid passing through the various openings 21 more uniform, thereby limiting any risk of a low level of liquid appearing at a single one of the openings 21 with the resultant risk of air being sucked in through that single opening 21 (which would lead to deterioration in the operation of the pump).

As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, and 7 at least some of the openings 11 formed through the outside wall 10 extend between the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall and the bearing plane P1 b of the inside wall.

Thus, as soon as the liquid starts spreading over the floor S, it quickly reaches the inside of the second enclosure E2. This means that it is possible to start pumping the liquid sooner, specifically as soon as the water level Ny inside the second enclosure E2 goes above the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall.

More generally, the openings 11 formed through the outside wall 10 are formed entirely between the suction limit plane P2 a for sucking through the outside wall and the bearing plane P2 b of the outside wall.

It should be observed that the bearing plane P1 b of the inside wall and the bearing plane P2 b of the outside wall are preferably mutually coplanar in order to improve placement of the device on the floor S.

Likewise, said:

-   -   suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall;     -   bearing plane P1 b of the inside wall;     -   suction limit plane P2 a for sucking through the outside wall;         and     -   bearing plane P2 b of the outside wall;         are preferably planes that are mutually parallel and that are         designed to be horizontal when the device is placed on a         horizontal plane floor so as to suck up liquid therefrom.

Preferably, the suction limit plane P1 a for sucking through the inside wall is spaced apart from the bearing plane P1 b of the inside wall by a height of value no more than 1 centimeter (cm) and preferably no more than 4 millimeters (mm), more preferably no more than 2 mm, thus making it possible to limit the width of the openings 21 made through the inside wall 20. Consequently, the distance between the floor (against which the inside wall 20 comes to bear) and the suction limit plane P1 a is thus very small.

As soon as the level of the liquid, in this example water, on the floor S goes past the suction limit plane P1 a through the inside wall 20, i.e. as soon as it exceeds the above-mentioned height value, the device of the invention is then in a position to suck in liquid only and is thus fully effective.

Thus, by means of the invention, the liquid level from which the liquid can be sucked in is particularly low.

It is thus possible to reduce the residual liquid level of the floor at the end of sucking up the liquid.

As can be understood in particular from FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the device preferably includes a bottom piece 22 that bears against the inside wall 20.

This bottom piece 22 forms a bottom face for the second enclosure E2.

The bottom piece 22 is preferably solid, however it could optionally present recesses of dimensions that are less than or equal to the minimum dimensions X2 of each of the openings 21 in the inside wall 20.

The bottom piece 22 serves to limit the size of particles that can penetrate into the second enclosure E2, since only particles that are capable of passing through the openings 21 can penetrate into the enclosure E2.

As a result, the risk of the pump connected to the pipe 3 being blocked is particularly limited.

Preferably, this bottom piece 22 forms a soleplate of the device 1 that bears against the floor S.

The bottom piece 22 comprises a bottom plate 22 a forming the bottom face of the second enclosure E2, together with ribs 22 b.

Each of the ribs 22 b extends perpendicularly relative to said bottom plate 22 a.

Each of the ribs 22 b has a first terminal end placed facing the inside wall 20 and a second terminal end placed in a central zone of the second enclosure E2, into which the second end 3 b of the pipe 3 opens out.

In this embodiment, each rib 22 b has a first function of stiffening the bottom piece 22 and a second function of guiding the flow of fluid inside the second enclosure E2 as it goes from the inside wall 20 (where the liquid is admitted) to the central zone of the second enclosure E2 (where the pipe 3 opens out).

This promotes a laminar flow of the liquid towards the pipe 3, thereby limiting the head loss that results from the device of the invention.

As can be understood from these FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the second enclosure E2 is preferably open towards a bottom plane PF in which a major portion of said bottom piece 22 extends.

In this example, the bottom plane PF is the plane in which the bottom plate 22 a of the bottom piece 22 extends.

Having the first enclosure E1 open towards the bottom plane PF makes it possible to have an opening of this first enclosure directed towards the floor S from which it is desired to suck up liquid. While sucking in liquid via the pipe 3, suction is generated in the first enclosure E1 that tends to press the device 1 against the floor S.

This limits any risk of the device 1 accidentally toppling over since the outside wall 10 tends to become pressed down onto the floor S.

Any risk of particles passing between the outside wall 10 and the floor S on which the device is pressed is thus greatly limited.

The device preferably includes a rod 40 extending inside of the second enclosure E2, the rod 40 extending from a top face of the second enclosure E2 to a central zone of said bottom piece 22.

The rod 40 and the bottom piece 22 are mechanically assembled one against the other.

The bottom piece 22 forming the bottom face of the second enclosure E2 is thus assembled to the remainder of the device via a centering rod 40 in contact against the central zone of the bottom piece.

This assembly technique is advantageous since it limits any risk of the bottom piece 22 bending, and consequently any risk of it breaking.

The bottom piece 22 lies between opposite bottom and top faces, with its top face facing into the second enclosure E2.

Preferably, the bottom piece includes a peripheral margin having a chamfer 22 c extending to the top face of the bottom piece.

Some of the openings 21 formed through the inside wall 20 also present a chamfer 21 a with one face of the chamfer 21 a either being parallel to the chamfer 22 c at the peripheral margin of the bottom piece, or else not parallel to the chamfer 22 c, diverging apart from the chamfer 22 c on going from the outside towards the inside of the second enclosure E2.

Since the chamfer 22 c at the margin of the bottom piece 22 is parallel to the chamfers 21 a of the openings in the inside wall 20, the flow of fluid through the openings 21 is improved.

Preferably, the chamfer 22 c of the bottom piece extends as far as the bottom face of the bottom piece, thereby enabling the chamfer to come very close to the floor S on which the device 1 is placed.

This makes it possible to suck up liquid present on the floor S at the junction between the chamfer 22 c and the bottom face of the bottom piece 22.

This can be advantageous for lowering the liquid level from which it is possible to begin pumping.

Preferably, all of the openings 21 formed through the inside wall 20 extend lengthwise in the same plane that is common to all of the openings 21 in the inside wall 20. In other words, when the device is placed on a horizontal floor, these openings 21 are themselves horizontal along their respective lengths.

The flow section for liquid through a given opening 21 formed through the inside wall 20 is determined by its length and by its width.

Since the openings 21 in the inside wall 20 extend longitudinally in the same plane, that means that while the device is in use, these openings 21 extend longitudinally essentially parallel to the floor S.

Thus, as soon as the liquid level rises above all of the openings 21, liquid is sucked in essentially without air.

Maximum liquid suction efficiency is thus reached quickly, once the liquid level rises above all of the openings 21, specifically above the widths of each of the openings 21.

This characteristic makes it possible to lower the level from which the device of the invention can be used for sucking up liquid only.

As mentioned above, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, 8, 9, and 10, the invention also relates to an assembly 100 for sucking up liquid on a floor S, the assembly comprising:

-   -   the device 1 in accordance with any of the above-described         embodiments; and     -   a liquid suction pump (4) connected to said first end (3 b) of         the pipe (3).

The pump 4 is connected to a control unit UC for the pump 4, itself connected to a probe 50 that is adapted to detect when a liquid level is reached relative to the pump 4.

The control unit UC is arranged to cause the pump 4 to operate in response to the probe 50 detecting said liquid level.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the probe 50 may be fastened on the pump, or alternatively it may be fastened on the device 1 of the invention.

This fastening may be adjustable so as to adjust the detection level from which the probe detects the presence of liquid on the floor on which the device 1 is arranged.

In certain embodiments, in order to preserve the integrity of the probe 50, the probe 50 may be fastened on the device in order to detect a liquid level being reached inside the device 1, specifically a liquid level inside the first enclosure.

In summary, the liquid level detected by the probe 50 may be a liquid level Nx outside the first enclosure E1, or a liquid level inside the first enclosure E1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the probe 50 may comprise at least two electrodes that are spaced apart from each other so as to be able to detect that a liquid level has been reached as a function of these electrodes measuring at least one electrical characteristic.

This electrical characteristic must vary depending on the nature of the fluid present between the electrodes.

For example, the electrical characteristic measured by means of the electrodes may be an electric resistance between electrodes, an electric current between the electrodes, or an electric voltage between the electrodes.

Thus, as soon as the liquid comes into contact with the electrodes, there is a change in the measured electrical characteristic, and it is thus possible to detect that the liquid level has been reached. As a function of this detection, the control unit UC causes the electric motor to operate. This avoids causing the motor to operate for liquid levels that are too small and incompatible with self-priming of the pump, the pump being actuated only when it can begin to suck up the liquid on the floor.

Preferably, the probe 50 is arranged so that the liquid level detected by the probe 50 lies above the suction limit plane P1 a for suction through the inside wall, i.e. preferably for liquid on the floor S presenting depth lying in the range 2 mm to 4 mm.

Preferably, the control unit UC and the probe 50 are arranged so that after the liquid level has dropped below a predetermined level as detected by the probe 50, operation of the motor is maintained by the control unit UC for a predetermined duration.

Thus, the pump continues to operate to lower the level of water on the floor and to avoid a level equilibrium point causing the pump to cycle through stopping and starting.

To do this, the control unit UC or the level probe 50 may include a timer for timing said predetermined duration, the timer being triggered on detecting that the liquid level has dropped below said predetermined level.

The control unit UC allows the motor to stop when the predetermined duration times out. By way of example, this predetermined duration may be about 30 seconds.

The length of time the pump operates without water is thus minimized so as to avoid damaging it.

It should be observed that the timer may be integrated in the probe 50, with the control unit UC then being programmed to stop the motor as soon as it receives a signal from the probe indicating that the predetermined duration has timed out.

The pump 4 is self-priming when dry, with the term “self-priming when dry” indicating that the pump has the ability to suck in dry air and create sufficient suction to suck up liquid on the floor and move the liquid into the chamber in order to discharge it via a discharge outlet 42 of the pump.

The pump 4 includes a suction inlet 41 and a discharge outlet 42.

The first end 3 a of the pipe 3 of the device 1 is arranged to be releasably connected to said suction inlet 41 for fluid flow in such a manner that when the pipe 3 is connected to the suction inlet 41 of the pump 4 and a bearing face of the device 1 is placed on a plane floor S (from which it is desired to suck up liquid), the weight of the pump 4 opposes the device 1 moving away from said plane floor S.

The pump comprises a chamber 44 in fluid flow connection with the suction inlet 41 and with the discharge outlet 42, a movable part 45 arranged inside the chamber 44, and an electric motor 46 located outside the chamber 44.

The electric motor and the control unit UC are powered via an electric power cable 60.

The electric motor 46 is connected to the movable part 45 by a coupling mechanism in such a manner that the control unit UC actuating the electric motor 46 causes the movable part 45 to perform reciprocating motion relative to the chamber in order to move a fluid (a gas or a liquid) from the suction inlet 41 to the discharge outlet 42.

In this example, the movable part 45 is in the shape of a disk that is hollow in its center and that is connected to the electric motor in such a manner as to be moved with rectilinear reciprocating motion in a direction perpendicular to the disk.

The hollow in the center of the disk enables a pumping effect to be obtained on both sides of the movable part with only one discharge outlet facing the hollow.

Nevertheless, it is possible to envisage the movable part being a solid disk (without a hollow in its center), in which case the movable part 45 is capable of:

-   -   either producing a pumping effect on only one of its two sides         (in which case there needs to be only one discharge outlet);     -   or else of producing a pumping effect on both of its sides (in         which case it is necessary to provide respective discharge         outlets for each of the sides of the movable part).

In this example, the movable part 45 is rigid, however it could be deformable in such a manner that actuating the electric motor 46 gives rise to a wave that propagates along the movable part 45 in order to move the fluid.

Under such circumstances, the movable part is an undulating diaphragm.

Such a diaphragm may be in the shape of a disk (the wave propagating radially relative to the disk) or in the shape of a strip (the wave propagating along the length of the strip) or in the shape of an elongate flexible tube that is peripherally stretchable (in which case the wave is a circular wave formed in the periphery of the tube and propagating along the length of the tube).

In each of these embodiments, the pump may include an upstream lip 120 a and a downstream lip 121 a designed to deform as a function of the movement of the movable part 45 in such a manner as to create a first space 123 a between the lips 120 a, 121 a and the wall 44 a of the chamber 44, which first space 123 a is expanded when the movable part 45 is moved away from the first wall 44 a of the chamber and is compressed when the movable part 45 is moved towards the first wall 44 a. The part 45 alternates between being moved away from and towards the first wall 44 a when the control unit UC actuates the electric motor 46.

The upstream lip 120 a is adapted to create sealing contact against the first wall 44 a when the pressure of the fluid in the space 123 a is higher than the pressure of the fluid upstream from the upstream lip 120 a.

In contrast, the downstream lip 121 a is adapted:

-   -   firstly to create sealing contact against the first wall 44 a so         long as the pressure of the fluid in the space 123 a is lower         than the pressure of the fluid downstream from the downstream         lip 121 a; and     -   secondly to move away from the first wall 44 a when the pressure         of the fluid in the space 123 a is higher than the pressure of         the fluid downstream from the downstream lip 121 a.

Thus, the space 123 a alternates between being in suction and open to the suction inlet 41 in order to suck in fluid (gas or liquid) therefrom, and being in compression and open to the discharge outlet 42 in order to expel the fluid therethrough. These lips impart self-priming ability on the pump.

There follows a detailed description of the situation in which the upstream and downstream lips are circular lips, as shown in the various embodiments of FIGS. 7, 10, 11, and 12.

As mentioned above, the pump includes:

-   -   a circular first upstream lip 120 a placed closer to the suction         inlet 41 than to the discharge outlet 42; and     -   a circular first downstream lip 121 a placed closer to the         discharge outlet 42 than to the suction inlet 41.

These circular first upstream and downstream lips 120 a and 121 a are placed between one of the sides of said movable part 45 and a first wall of the chamber 44 so as to define a first space 123 a between these circular first upstream and downstream lips 120 a and 121 a.

In the present example, since the movable part forms a disk that is hollow in its center, the first space 123 a defined between the lips 120 a and 121 a forms an angular space extending between a first wall 44 a of the chamber 44 and a first side of the movable part 45 that faces this first wall 44 a.

As can be understood in particular from FIG. 11, these circular first upstream and downstream lips 120 a and 121 a are such that over the first portion P1 of said reciprocating motion of said movable part 45 relative to the chamber 44, the circular first downstream lip 121 a provides sealing that prevents fluid from passing from said discharge outlet 42 to said first space 123 a, with the circular first upstream lip 120 a then allowing free passage for fluid between said first space 123 a and said suction inlet 41.

Specifically, over this first portion P1 of said reciprocating motion of said movable part 45, the circular first upstream lip 120 a is spaced apart from one of said first wall 44 a and movable part 45 in order to generate a free fluid passage, i.e. a free space between said first space 123 a and said suction inlet 41.

Thus, over this first portion P1 of said reciprocating motion, since the first space 123 a is closed downstream and open upstream, a fluid suction effect is obtained from the suction inlet 41 towards the first space 123 a by spacing the movable part 45 away from the first wall 44 a.

As can be understood in particular from FIG. 11, these circular first upstream and downstream lips 120 a and 121 a are such that over a second portion P2 of said reciprocating motion of said movable part 45 relative to the chamber 44, the circular first upstream lip 120 a provides sealing that prevents fluid from passing from said first space 123 a to said suction inlet 41, with the circular first downstream lip 121 a being arranged:

-   -   firstly to allow fluid to pass between said first space 123 a         and said discharge outlet 42 when the fluid pressure inside said         first space 123 a is higher than the fluid pressure at the         discharge outlet 42; and     -   secondly to prevent fluid from passing from said discharge         outlet 42 to said first space 123 a.

Thus, over this second portion P2 of said reciprocating motion, since the first space 123 a is closed upstream and open downstream only when the fluid pressure in the first space 123 a is higher than the fluid pressure at the discharge outlet 42, fluid is discharged from the first space 123 a to the discharge outlet 42 by moving the movable part 45 towards the first wall 44 a.

The reciprocating motion of the movable part 45 causes fluid to be sucked from the suction inlet 41 into the first space 123 a during the first portion P1 of the motion, and then causes the fluid to be expelled from the first space 123 a to the discharge outlet 42 over the second portion P2 of said reciprocating motion.

In order to double this suction/expulsion effect on the fluid/liquid, the pump may include a second upstream lip 120 b and a second downstream lip 121 b designed to deform as a function of the movement of the movable part 45 in such a manner as to create a second space 123 b between the lips 120 b, 121 b and a second wall 44 b of the chamber 44, which second space 123 b is expanded when the movable part 45 is moved away from the second wall 44 a of the chamber and is compressed when the movable part 45 is moved towards the second wall 44 a.

Specifically, the part 45 is movable between the first and second walls 44 a and 44 b of the chamber 44.

The part 45 thus alternates between being moved away from and towards the second wall 44 b when the control unit UC actuates the electric motor 46.

The second upstream lip 120 b is adapted to create sealing contact against the second wall 44 b when the pressure of the fluid in the second space 123 b is higher than the pressure of the fluid upstream from the second upstream lip 120 b.

In contrast, the second downstream lip 121 b is adapted:

-   -   firstly to create sealing contact against the second wall 44 a         so long as the pressure of fluid in the second space 123 b is         lower than the pressure of fluid downstream from the second         downstream lip 121 b; and     -   secondly to move away from the second wall 44 b when the         pressure of the fluid in the space 123 b is higher than the         pressure of the fluid downstream from the downstream lip 121 b.

Thus, the second space 123 b alternates between being in suction and open to the suction inlet 41 in order to suck in the fluid (gas or liquid) therefrom, and being in compression and open to the discharge outlet 42 in order to expel the fluid therethrough.

The circular second upstream lip 120 b is placed closer to the suction inlet 41 than it is to the discharge outlet 42 and the circular second downstream lip 121 b is placed closer to the discharge outlet 42 that it is to the suction inlet 41.

These circular second upstream and downstream lips 120 b and 121 b are placed between one of the sides of said movable part 45 and a second wall 44 b of the chamber 44 so as to define a second space 123 b between these circular second upstream and downstream lips 120 b and 121 b.

In the present example, since the movable part is in the shape of a disk that is hollow in its center, the second space 123 b defined between the lips 120 b and 121 b forms an annular space extending between the second wall 44 b and the second side of the movable part 45 that is facing the second wall 44 b.

As can be understood in particular from FIG. 11, these circular second upstream and downstream lips 120 b and 121 b are such that over the third portion of said reciprocating motion of said movable part 45 relative to the chamber 44, the circular second downstream lip 121 b provides sealing that prevents fluid from passing from said discharge outlet 42 to said second space 123 b, with the circular second upstream lip 120 b then allowing free passage for fluid between said second space 123 b and said suction inlet 41.

It should be observed that this third portion of the motion of the movable part that is symmetrical to the first portion P1 of the motion relative to a central position of the part 45 between the walls 44 a and 44 b.

Specifically, over this third portion of said reciprocating motion of said movable part 45, the circular second upstream lip 120 b is spaced apart from one of said second wall 44 b and movable part 45 in order to generate a free fluid passage, i.e. a free space between said second space 123 b and said suction inlet 41.

Thus, over this third portion of said reciprocating motion, since the second space 123 b is closed downstream and open upstream, a fluid suction effect is obtained from the suction inlet 41 towards the second space 123 b by spacing movable part 45 away from the second wall 44 b.

As can be understood in particular from FIG. 11, these circular second upstream and downstream lips 120 b and 121 b are such that over the fourth portion of said reciprocating motion of said movable part 45 relative to the chamber 44, the circular second upstream lip 120 b provides sealing that prevents fluid from passing from said second space 123 b to said suction inlet 41, with the circular second downstream lip 121 b then being arranged:

-   -   firstly to allow fluid to pass between said second space 123 b         and said discharge outlet 42 when the fluid pressure inside said         second space 123 b is higher than the fluid pressure at the         discharge outlet 42; and     -   secondly to prevent fluid from passing from said discharge         outlet 42 to said second space 123 b.

Thus, over this fourth portion of said reciprocating motion, since the second space 123 b is closed upstream and open downstream only when the fluid pressure in the second space 123 b is higher than the fluid pressure at the discharge outlet 42, fluid is discharged from the second space 123 b to the discharge outlet 42 by moving the movable part 45 towards the second wall 44 b.

The reciprocating motion of the movable part 45 causes fluid to be sucked from the suction inlet 41 into the second space 123 a and then causes the fluid to be expelled from the second space 123 b to the discharge outlet 42.

Thus, by means of the pairs of lips placed on either side of the part, two suctions and two discharges that are mutually offset occur over one cycle of the motion of the part, thereby enabling a fluid flow to be obtained that is more uniform over time.

It should be observed that the number of lips on each face may be different.

Thus, if one of the faces of the movable part does not have any lip, then that is either because that face is not used for pumping (as applies to a movable part in the form of a disk without a hollow center), or else because it is the movable part that is deformable in order to establish sealing against the corresponding wall of the chamber.

Using only one lip on a side of the movable part serves only to oppose fluid return.

Using two lips on a side of the movable part serves to create the space between an upstream lip and a downstream lip in order to obtain a pump presenting a self-priming effect when dry.

With more than two lips on the same side of the movable part, a greater pressure difference can be generated between the discharge outlet and the suction inlet of the pump.

Thus, depending on the desired pressure difference, it is possible to have three lips on each side of the movable part, or even more.

Under certain conditions, it has been observed that a given lip can become pressed against a support of the lip (the chamber wall or the movable part) and act as a suction cup.

The behavior of the pump is then degraded, since that given lip no longer performs its sealing function.

In order to avoid that, and as shown in FIGS. 7, 11, and 12, it is ensured that at least one fluid passage is created between the given lip and its support.

Each at least one fluid passage between a given lip and its support is such that when the lip comes to pressed against its support, fluid can continue to flow between the lip and its support. This avoids the suction cup effect.

To do this, it is possible either to create shape irregularities between the given lip and its support, such as:

-   -   projections carried by the given lip and extending towards its         support; and/or     -   projections carried by the support and extending towards the         given lip that it supports; and/or     -   channels (hollow zones) carried by the given lip and extending         towards its support; and/or     -   channels (hollow zones) carried by the support and extending         towards the given lip that it supports.

Preferably, each projection or channel extends longitudinally from one end of the given lip towards a junction point between that lip and its support.

It is generally preferable for the projections and/or channels to be formed/carried solely by the support of the lip rather than by the lip itself, since the lip is then deformable in uniform manner.

Having a projection or a channel carried by a lip gives rise to preferred deformation zones over the lip, which can then give rise to head losses that are detrimental to the operation of the pump.

When the given lip is annular, it is preferable for the projections or channels to be formed on the support of the lip so as to form radii centered around an axis of symmetry of the given lip.

The pump 4 can be used on its own to transfer the fluid from its suction inlet to the discharge outlet, or alternatively it can be used in combination with the device of the invention in order to form a basement-drainer.

The fluid flow connection between the pump 4 and the device 1 is preferably made using a manually-operable coupling, i.e. a coupling that can be changed manually, without needing any tool, from a state in which the device is coupled with the pump to a state in which the device is uncoupled from the pump, and vice versa.

The coupling may comprise a quick coupling and/or a coupling with a loose nut that can be tightened in order to clamp the pipe to the pump without any need for the device 1 to be pivoted relative to the pump 4.

Preferably, it is ensured that the coupling includes an O-ring that provides sealing as soon as the pipe is engaged relative to the coupling over a depth of engagement that is greater than at least one pitch of the thread of the loose nut.

Thus, it is possible manually, without needing any tool, to pass quickly from the basement-drainer configuration to the liquid transfer configuration, and vice versa.

The basement-drainer configuration 100 is particularly practical, since the device 1 serves to reduce the minimum depth of liquid from which it is possible to begin pumping up the liquid present on the floor.

This is particularly advantageous for limiting the effects of flooding, since liquid begins to be sucked up sooner. Likewise, the device 1 enables the liquid present on the floor to be sucked up even when the depth of liquid on the floor is very shallow, preferably less than 4 mm, more preferably less than 2 mm.

In a first assembly configuration between the device 1 and the pump 4, the pump 4 has legs 43 with ends that are coplanar with the bearing face of the device 1 when the first end 3 a of the pipe 3 of the device is in fluid flow connection with said suction inlet 41.

In this first assembly configuration, when the pump and the device of the invention are in fluid flow connection with each other and in position to pump up the liquid on a plane floor S, the pump 4 and the device 1 are located side-by-side on the floor.

In this embodiment, the assembly 100 of the invention is particularly stable since its center of gravity is very close to the floor S.

In this embodiment, the suction inlet 41 and the discharge outlet 42 of the pump 4 extend longitudinally in a common plane that is parallel to said bearing face of the device.

In a second assembly configuration for the pump 4 and the device 1 (see FIGS. 9 and 10), the pump 4 is assembled with the first end 3 a the pipe 3 of the device 1 in such a manner that when the bearing face of the device is positioned on a plane floor S so as to suck up liquid therefrom, the pump 4 is then supported by the device 1.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first end 3 a the pipe 3 is formed on a top face of the device 1, with the device 1 being located between its bearing face and this top face.

In this embodiment, the suction inlet 41 of the pump 4 extends longitudinally in an extension direction that is perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis along which the discharge outlet 42 extends.

In this example, the suction inlet 41 extends longitudinally in an extension direction that is perpendicular relative to said bearing face of the device 1 on the floor.

In a preferred embodiment of the assembly 100 as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the device 1 forms a stand for supporting the pump 4 on the floor.

In another advantageous embodiment of the assembly 100, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the assembly is adapted to adopt selectively either a liquid transfer configuration (FIG. 8) or a basement-drainer configuration (FIGS. 9 and 10).

In the liquid transfer configuration (FIG. 8), the device 1 is assembled on an attachment fitting 47 of the pump 4 that is situated at a distance from the suction inlet 41 of the pump. In this way, it is possible to transfer liquid using the pump without the liquid passing through the device.

In the basement-drainer configuration (FIGS. 9 and 10), the device 1 is in fluid flow connection with the suction inlet 41 of the pump, the device 1 then forming a stand supporting the pump and then being arranged to filter the liquid sucked up by the pump.

It should be observed that in this example, the attachment fitting 47 is a projection (specifically a threaded projection) that engages the first end 3 a of the pipe 3 of the device 1. 

1. A device for sucking up liquid on a floor, the device having an outside wall defining a first enclosure that is open at least via openings formed through the outside wall so as to allow liquid to pass from outside the first enclosure to inside the first enclosure, the device having a pipe presenting a first end arranged for putting into fluid flow connection with a liquid suction pump and a second end of the pipe in fluid flow connection with said first enclosure so as to be able to suck liquid present in the first enclosure into said pipe, the device being characterized in that it includes an inside wall defining a second enclosure, the second enclosure being open at least via openings formed through the inside wall so as to allow liquid to pass from the first enclosure into the second enclosure and said second end of the pipe opening out into the inside of the second enclosure at a distance from the first enclosure and wherein: the openings formed through the inside wall are formed exclusively between a suction limit plane for sucking through the inside wall and a bearing plane of the inside wall; and the openings formed through the outside wall are formed exclusively between a suction limit plane for sucking through the outside wall and a bearing plane of the outside wall, at least some of the openings formed through the outside wall being formed between the suction limit plane for sucking through the outside wall and the suction limit plane for sucking through the inside wall.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said second enclosure is located inside said first enclosure.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the suction limit plane for sucking through the inside wall is spaced apart from the bearing plane of the inside wall by a height of value no more than 1 centimeter.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the openings formed through the outside wall extend between the suction limit plane for sucking through the inside wall and the bearing plane of the inside wall.
 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the bearing plane of the inside wall and the bearing plane of the outside wall are mutually coplanar.
 6. The device according to claim 3, wherein said: suction limit plane for sucking through the inside wall; bearing plane of the inside wall; suction limit plane for sucking through the outside wall; and bearing plane of the outside wall; are mutually parallel planes.
 7. The device according to claim 1, comprising a bottom piece bearing against the inside wall, the bottom piece forming a bottom face of the second enclosure.
 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the bottom piece comprises a bottom plate forming the bottom face of the second enclosure together with ribs, each of the ribs extending perpendicularly relative to said bottom plate, each of these ribs having a first terminal end arranged facing the inside wall and a second terminal end arranged in a central zone of the second enclosure into which the second end of the pipe opens out.
 9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the second enclosure is open towards a bottom plane in which a major portion of said bottom piece extends.
 10. The device according to claim 7, comprising a rod extending inside the second enclosure, the rod extending from a top face of the second enclosure to a central zone of said bottom piece, the rod and the bottom piece being mechanically assembled one against the other.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein all of the openings formed through the inside wall extend lengthwise in the same plane that is common to all of the openings in the inside wall.
 12. An assembly for sucking up liquid on a floor, the assembly comprising the device according to claim 1 and a liquid suction pump connected to said first end of the pipe, the pump being connected to a control unit of the pump itself connected to a probe adapted to detect liquid reaching a level relative to the pump, the control unit being arranged to cause the pump to operate in response to the probe detecting liquid at said level.
 13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the pump includes a suction inlet and a discharge outlet, the first end of the pipe of the device being arranged to be put releasably into fluid flow connection with said suction inlet in such a manner that when the pipe is connected to the suction inlet of the pump and a bearing face of the device is placed on a plane floor, the pump, under the effect of its own weight, opposes the device moving away from said plane floor.
 14. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the pump has legs with ends that are coplanar with the bearing face of the device when the first end of the pipe of the device is in fluid flow connection with said suction inlet.
 15. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the pump is assembled with the first end of the pipe of the device in such a manner that when the bearing face of the device is positioned on a plane floor in order to suck up liquid therefrom, the pump is then supported by the device.
 16. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the pump is self-priming when dry.
 17. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the pump comprises a chamber in fluid flow connection with the suction inlet and with the discharge outlet, a movable part arranged inside the chamber, and an electric motor located outside the chamber, the electric motor being connected to the movable part by a coupling mechanism in such a manner that actuating the electric motor causes the movable part to perform reciprocating motion relative to the chamber in order to move a fluid from the suction inlet to the discharge outlet.
 18. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein the pump includes a circular first upstream lip placed closer to the suction inlet than to the discharge outlet and a circular first downstream lip placed closer to the discharge outlet than to the suction inlet, these circular first upstream and downstream lips being placed between one of the sides of said movable part of the chamber to define a first space between the circular first upstream and downstream lips, these circular first upstream and downstream lips being such that: over a first portion of said reciprocating movement of said movable part relative to the chamber, the circular first downstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing from said discharge outlet to said first space, the circular first upstream lip then allowing free passage for fluid between said first space and said suction inlet; and that over a second portion of said reciprocating movement of said movable part relative to the chamber, the circular first upstream lip provides sealing preventing fluid from passing from said first space to said suction inlet, the circular first downstream lip being arranged: firstly to allow fluid to pass between said first space and said discharge outlet when the fluid pressure inside said first space is higher than the fluid pressure at the discharge outlet; and secondly to prevent fluid from passing from said discharge outlet 112 to said first space.
 19. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the device for sucking up liquid on a floor forms a stand for supporting the pump.
 20. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the assembly is adapted to adopt selectively either a liquid transfer configuration or a basement-drainer configuration, in the liquid transfer configuration, the device is assembled to an attachment fitting of the pump situated at a distance from the suction inlet of the pump, and in the basement-drainer configuration, the device is in fluid flow connection with the suction inlet of the pump, the device forming a stand for supporting the pump, the device then being arranged to filter the fluid sucked in by the pump. 